Board Okays After-school Care

SANFORD — Seminole County School Board members have given the county's first after- school child care program the go ahead to begin this fall at three elementary schools.

Board members this week unanimously endorsed the YMCA ''latchkey'' program, which will offer activities to children who otherwise would be left alone until their parents came home.

Chairwoman Nancy Warren backs the program and said Tuesday she believes there's a need for children with working parents to be in an organized after- school program.

''If there is a community organization providing the service, I'd rather see them than us taking it over.''

The program will include a variety of recreational, sports and educational activities, as well as snacks from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Goldsboro Elementary School near Sanford, Longwood Elementary School and Lake Mary Elementary School.

The program is aimed at children who tend to go home and watch television, said Jerry Haralson, general director of the Central Florida YMCA.

''They have opportunities of getting into trouble . . .,'' he said. ''That causes problems in school work and lots of other things.''

A weekly fee of about $20 will be charged to parents enrolling their children in the program, said Haralson. The money will cover instructors' fees, food and the purchase of games and other equipment.

The YMCA also hopes to grant scholarships to children from low-income families with the help of donations from community service groups, he said.

Haralson first proposed the latchkey program to the board in June, but board members deferred a vote until learning more about the program and ensuring the YMCA was insured.

The latchkey program already has been implemented in schools around the country, including in Volusia and Brevard counties.

Parents interested in enrolling their children in the program should call the YMCA at 862-0444.